Chuck



Oct. 12, 1948. l w. v. BAULT 2,450,931

- canon Filed vDec. 27, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l INVENTOR. g5/Wala Aitorzzqy'.

W. V. BAU LT Oct. 12, 1948.

CHUCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1945 IN VEN TOR.

Oct 12, 1948. `w. vv. BAUL-r 2,450,931

CHUCK Filed Deo. 27, 1945 s sheetsfsheet 3 Z wl ' INVENTOR.

Attorneys.

Patented Oct. 12, 1948 f UNiTEo aren-T OFFICE 1 i My invention relates to means for holding and 'positioning-work for such operations as milling, drilling, tapping and Vslotting, and involvesachuck which inclu-des a standard spring collet in which the work is held.'

One object of the f invention is to provide a chuck of the character mentioned which may be applied to the lathe, Shaper or operative lmachine to positionthe work either'y vertically' or horizontally, and which includesv positive means to clamp the collet to the work with a tight grip.

kA further object is to' employ dual wedge means at a highly favorable leverage to procure the clamping application of the collet. f

Another object is to mount-thecollet ina center piece which is rotatable to turn the work to any chosen point or angle and to fix it at suchpoint or angle.

Afstill further object is to provide a hand control for procuring a partial turn of the work or to position the same at any oneof a number of steps in such partial turn. n An important object is to construct the novel chuck along lines of ruggedness, compactness andsimpiicity. i f

With the above objects in: View and anyothers which may 'suggest' themselves from thedescription to follow, a better understanding of the in-v vention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, 'inwhich- Fig. 1 is a top plan Lviewof the chuck, partly broken away, on the line I-I of Fig. 3;

Figi. 2 is a front elevation; y V

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4- and 6 are, respectively, sections on the lines 4-4 and 6-6 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In accordance Vwith the foregoing, specific reierence to the drawings indicates the housing oi the novel chuck at l, the same having a base II applicable to the lathe, milling machine. or operative structure; Aand the housing receives a headpiece I2 by means of a set of securing bolts I3.V f The housing has a center 'bore I4 to slidably dispose an axial sleeve I6 from which extends a forward.- continuation in the form of a ring Ii. The sleeve and ring receive a standard split-type collet I8 on the inside. The ring Il seats in an annular offset IBa of the sleeve I6 and receives four screws 20 from the same to secure the ring rigidly to the sleeve.v The head Ia of the collet has a ared marginal enlargement ISU; and the ring Il is beveled in forward direction as indicated at Ila to t. the are of lthe enlargement 10 Claims.

the retainer ange 40 pression spring 34 5o `the clamping ring Il.

55 suitable mechanical means. f

2 I8b. Thus, the forward movement of the sleeve and ring will act wedgingly against the collet-'to constrict the same and clamp such work as it may contain.

5 The ring I1 is coniined in and guided bya sturdy cup-like retainer 2| disposed in the center of the headpiece I2 andhaving an internal shoulder ZIa at its forward end forming a' stop for the collet enlargement Ib. At its rear end l0 the retainer has a wide base ange'ZIb overva rearwardly-opening cavity I2a in the headpiece. The retainer is held in the latter by the application of a pair of diametrically-positioned plates 22, whose inner ends underlie the rear face of 2lb, the outer ends of the plates being secured by screws 23 to the'headl piece.

ring Il is effected by cooperating wedge means.

Thus, an elliptical wedge 26 is disposed around `the sleeve I6, and is tapped in one end as indi--- 'cated at 26a to receive a handle 21. The latter extends through a bushing 28 to the outside of the housing, lthe bushing-threading into the'wall of the housing as indicated at 28a. The wedge 25 is shown in the normal or retracted position; `but it may be advanced by pushing the handle 27 inwardly. I f' A roller bearing 29 is interposed between the 0 rear or base side of the wedge 26 and the hous-l ing base' Il; and a cooperating wedge ring 30 lies against the forward or beveled side of the wedge. The Wedge 26 is shown in the normal or retracted position; but it may be advanced by pushing the handle 21 inwardly.

The ring 30 receives a rollerbearin'g 3i in front, this bearing being followed by a` ring 32 which is keyed at 33 to a flange I6b extending outwardly from the sleeve offset Ilia. kA comis positioned between this flange and the retainer ange 2lb; and a roller bearing flange and the floor of the cavity I2a.-

It is now seen that the compression springv 34 4.5 serves not only to `bear forwardly on the retainer 2l but also to maintainfthe wedge ring 30fin engagement with the wedge 26. However, when the latter isradvanced,l it acts positively-through the bearing 3l, ring 32 and sleeve I6 to -actuate Due to the highly `favor` able leverage obtained by the dual wedge means, vonly a small amount of Aeffort willbe required to operate the handle 21 as stated; andethisjmay" be ydonernanually, by air pressure, or by oth Operative movement of the beveled clamping 35 yis interposed between the retainer Since the work is rotatable by means of the central assembly, indexing means are provided to locate the work at any one of a number of positions in its path of rotation. Thus, the ring 32 is made with a series of radial slots 32a in its margin, any one of which may receive a plunger 35 directed through the side of the housing and having a knob 3l at its outer end. The plunger 36 is slidable in a radial lever 38, whose inner portion is tted into a base 39. The latter is provided with side wings 4U at its inner end; and such end is of concave form to receive a portion of a ring 4| which encircles the ring 321 The latter is freely rotatable in the ring 4l; and` this ring is supported from the lever base 39 by screws 42 threading into it from the sidewings- On its inward course, the plunger 36 passes.v

40. through a cavity 38a in the inner end of the lever 38 and a bore 43 in the ring 4 I. A coil spring. 44 in the cavity bears against a cross-pin 45 carriedl by Ythe plunger with theY effect of urging the latter ini` the inward direction: Thus, Fig. 3 shows the Vindexing'ring 32- locked fromi-rotation by the seating of the plunger 36 in one of theslots 32a; It follows, now; that. the withdrawal' of. the knob. 3lL willretract; the plunger fromthe-indexing'ring andpermit4 the lever assembly'to' be-advanced to apoint where thereleaseofl the plunger `36will again lockV the.` indexing-.ringfand worksupport tothe lever?, sothat the same "may be reversed: to rotate the work to adesirednewposition.

Figsa, 1- and 4 indicate that the-base 39 of the radiallever 38is locatedinaside opening-46 in the housing I0; such opening having a width of approximately 90 degrees. Thus, with' the lever 38 locked to the indexing ring 32 by means ofthe plunger 36, itis possible toturn-the workV partway` by means of the lever orto turniit in succes.- sive steps byv retracting: the plunger' after each forward stroke of the lever' and'returning the latter: for a new` hold on. theindexing ring.. The latter is -ofcourse interchangeable for one with .slots-'at different intervals according to the requirements ofthe control. To suitl this factora variablev backing' stop for the lever basefis pro'- Vi'd'ed initlreformA of ascrew 4l threaded into the wall of the housing and secured by a lock nut48;

Whenthe workrhas `been turned-toA the fdesired positiomand clamped bythe wedge-means previously described, .ittis necessary.' to r lock` itiv from rotation in eitherl direction, and thisfis done by locking the lever base 39 to. the housing i0. Thus, Fig. 5 shows'that such basehasavertical plunger 5D whose lower vportion.is'disposedin a pocket 5li in the base 39, while the upperportion of the plunger isflocatedxin a bore:52."ma'de irrthe housing portion located' above thev opening. 46; The upperend of 'the bore opens onA a larger bore 531-; and the plunger has'. an enlarged head.v 54 normally-"resting inv the bottom. of. the-.bore 53. The upper end f of the latter. is 'operrl and receives a lid 55 securedfiuslilyinY theupperend ofthe housing. byfscreWs/SB-L Al compression springs 51 extends between. the lid'55' and the plunger head 54. Tlielever 38 has a: side recess: 58lopposite a push pirr ISU-located" below the plungerl 50i; and the push pin 5D' also extends" overfa'hook'i projecting laterally-'from the'lever 38.

With-` the parts just: describedin the positions sl'iown, the plunger 5!) serves-in themanner ofa lock tumblervv to check the lateral movementz of the'lever 38"-in relation to the housing, so thatftlie in the colletis thus maintaiiietlin* a"- Xed position. However, when -tliefworkis'to befl'QtaiZ- ed a partial twist of the lever in the clockwise direction-per Fig. 5-wi1l cause the hook 6| to raise the push-pin 6U and in turn the plunger 50 until the latter clears the lever base 39, so that thelever may be swung in the left-hand direction. On the return of the lever, a bevel cam Bia on the leading side of the base 39 will lift the plunger and allow it to drop back into the locking position by the action of the spring 51. It is noted that the lever 38 is annularly grooved' at 62 to receive a pin 63 in the base 39, permitting the twisting motion of the lever therein while locking the lever against longitudinal movement. An auxiliary means to lock the indexing assembly consists of a thumbscrew 64 whose shank 65 threads through the housing wall I0 toward the periphery ofthe lever ring 4|. Thus, by advancing the thumbscrew the indexing mechanism may-be locked for jobs, requiring a brief amount of work, or only on one or two pieces. In this event apermanent indexing ring adjustment' is unnecessary, since the work may be rotated or set to.v any desired positionl andlocked' by'means of the'thumbscrew.

It will be evident that the novel unit has several advantageous features; First, it secures a:posi tive gripv on tlie collet and itsicontents" by' dual wedge meansactuated. simply'andeasily from the outside of therunit. Furtlier,V the' work support'is freely rotatable when" the plungerA control' is retracted; and the advance' of-tlie wedge'does not in any way'hinderthe rotation of the worksupport. Further, the work support.4 can be given partial rotation and independently locked by means ofthe thumbscrew 64. Further, both the plunger control and the leverlocking the work support to thehousing are insa single assembly and operable jointly or separately by the hand holding the-same,` Further, the chuck has a twopart housing which may be'readily'opened for attention or repair to parts or'tlie' removal oradjustment of the same. Finally, the, chuck is of rugged and compact nature, and adapte'dfor application in either a vertical or horizontalposition to machines in which it is to be used.

While Ihave described the invention along specic lines, various minor. changes or. refinements may be made therein Without departing,v fromit's principle, and I desireto consider. such changes and. refinements as coming. within. thescope :and spiritoftheappendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A- chuck comprising ahousing, a contractible work-engaging generally cylindrical. collet rotatably supportedlin the housing,.a.s1eeve surrounding thecollet'. andzmounted in the housingfor axial movementv relative thereto, cooperating cam .means supportedby theA collet and sleeveior contractionv of thecollet upon axial movement of. the sleeve, a wedge ring surrounding-the sleeves and,` confined toaxial.- movement.. therewith, an elliptical f wedge ring surrounding. the; sleeve and cooperating with the lfrst wedge ring, means supporting the elliptical,v wedge. ring.from. the housingrfor'movementtransversely ofthe axisof the sleeve, and# means for selectivelyrotating and securing thecollet about itsfaxisin said. housing.

A2. A-chuck:comp1ising a housing, a contractible. work-engaging generally cylindrical collet rotatably supportedV in the housing, meansfor contractingthe. collet, a notchedring surrounding the'collet and supportedfor'rotaticn therewith', alever. supported. byxtlie housing for. movement-aboutathe axis .of"thecollet,v.andfretractible detent means supported by the lever for selective engagement in the notches of the ring.

3. A chuck comprising a housing, a sleeve supported in the housing for axial movement relative thereto, a contractible work engaging collet disposed within the sleeve and having a iiared head, wedge means supported by the sleeve cooperating with the flared head for contraction of the collet upon axial movement of the sleeve, a wedge ring surrounding the sleeve and confined to axial `movement therewith, and an elliptical wedge ring surrounding the sleeve in operative engagement with the first wedge ring and supported fonmovement transversely of the axis of the sleeve for moving same axially upon movement of the elliptical wedge ring.

4. A chuck according to claim 3 wherein said sleeve together with the lcollet are supported within the housing for rotation about their axes, and means for rotating the sleeve about its axis and for locking same in any position of rotation.

' 5. A chuck comprising a housing including a lathe engaging base, a head piece secured to the housing, a retainer ring supported. in the head piece, a sleeve supported within thehousing for rotary and axial movement, a beveled ring secured to said sleeve in bearing engagement with the inner wall of said retainer` ring, a split contractible work engaging collet supported within said sleeve for rotation therewith, means on the retainer ring for restraining the collet against axial movement, said collet having a beveled head engageable with said beveled ring for contraction of the collet upon axial movement of the sleeve, a spring disposed between said retainer ring and said sleeve for yieldably resisting axial movement thereof, a cam ring surrounding said sleeve, means confining said cam ring for axial movement with the sleeve, a second cam ring surrounding the sleeve and cooperating with said first cam ring, and means supporting said second cam ring for movement transversely to the axis of said sleeve.

6. A chuck according to claim 5 wherein said confining means comprises a flange on one end of the sleeve, an indexing ring keyed to said flange, and a bearing assembly disposed between the indexing ring and said rst cam ring.

7. A chuck according to claim 5 together with means supported by the sleeve and cooperating means supported by the housing for rotating said sleeve about its axis.

8. A chuck according to claim 5 wherein said retainer ring includes a flange engaged by said spring, and a, bearing assembly between said iiange and said head piece.

9. A chuck comprising a housing, a sleeve rotatably supported in said housing, a contractible work engaging collet supported within said sleeve for rotation therewith, means for contracting said collet, a ring keyed to said sleeve and provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches, a lever supported by said housing for limited circumferential movement about the axis of said sleeve, releasable spring pressed detent means supported by said lever for selective engagement in said notches for stepped rotation of the sleeve upon oscillating movement of the lever, and means for locking the lever against movement relative to the housing in any rotary adjustment of the sleeve with said detent means engaged in a notch in said ring.

l0. A chuck according to claim 9 wherein said lever is secured to a second ring rotatable about the Lflrst ring, and an aperture in said second ring receiving said detent means.

WILLIAM V. BAULT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

